Emirates brings First Class Entertainment to Economy on larger 13.3-inch screens on new two-class A380s. Emirates

Skift Take: Looking back on a year’s worth of news in aviation paints a picture of an industry that is eager to innovate for the future. Now that airlines are more profitable, they can afford to be more ambitious with their passenger experience improvement programs. Let’s hope the industry continues rising, and moving closer to a better future of flight in 2016 and beyond.

]]>162842Emirates brings First Class Entertainment to Economy on larger 13.3-inch screens on new two-class A380s. / EmiratesHappy Passengers May Make a Difference to Airline Performance After Allhttps://skift.com/2015/12/11/happy-passengers-may-make-a-difference-to-airline-performance-after-all/
Fri, 11 Dec 2015 12:00:13 +0000http://skift.com/?p=162554

11-abreast seating on an Airbus. Airbus

Skift Take: The point IATA makes is that airlines do benefit from and are interested in having happy customers. Schaaf says that proof of the pudding is in the airlines which pay good money to buy this report from the Association.

Skift Take: Baggage drop systems complement today's self-serve travel process. Passengers increasingly using early check-in via the airline app, or avoiding the queue at the check-in desk. But having your electronic boarding pass ready on your smartphone when you get to the terminal loses its convenience if you have to wait in line for the check-in desk, just to drop off your bag.

Skift Take: This isn’t about the industry’s largest seat-back screens or more content than you can consume on 100 trips around the world. It’s about personalization. Giving passengers what they value most is the new brand loyalty builder. The key for airlines, which serve global markets, is to understand that what passengers value most differs by region, by demographic, and from individual to individual. Airlines either get that, or passengers will deplane and never come back again.

]]>161597The Residence on Etihad. / Etihad AirwaysAirlines Can Profit from Being Smart, But Being Smarter Can Help Them Own the Journeyhttps://skift.com/2015/11/09/airlines-can-profit-from-being-smart-but-being-smarter-can-help-them-own-the-journey/
Mon, 09 Nov 2015 12:30:57 +0000http://skift.com/?p=160882

Mike Rhodin (left), senior vice president, IBM Watson Group, and Terry Jones, founder of Travelocity and founding chairman of Kayak, get set to announce the launch of WayBlazer on October 7, 2014. Jon Simon / IBM

Skift Take: Whether it’s airlines which capitalise on artificial intelligence capabilities, or another sector of the travel industry, smart queries and solutions-oriented replies are the next logical step for the future of everything.